Ed Miliband makes race equality pledge

Politicians often make promises they can’t keep,"

said Ed Miliband to an audience of 200 people at the Croydon BME Forum and OBV event yesterday.

But this is a promise you can count on, and you are my witnesses: if Labour win the coming election, in every Government Department there will be a comprehensive Race Equality Strategy to tackle those persistent inequalities that many Black people face.”

He went on to cite some of those areas including unemployment, 'Stop and Search’, housing and education. He went on to tell the audience that there are many other areas that will also need to be confronted.

Although the audience were respectful and courteous, Miliband was not given an easy ride. Race equality veteran Mark Wadsworth asked bluntly:

Why did you get rid of Diane Abbott from your front bench? And given that Labour is still struggling with lack of Black representation, will you bring in all-Black shortlists?"

Miliband responded that "all-Black shortlists will not be ruled out," and on the issue of Diane Abbott he replied:

I very much value Diane and her contribution over the many years. And if I’m to be honest, I think Diane enjoys the freedom from the Shadow front bench to say what she wants on a variety of topics.”

The young people from Croydon College also pulled no punches, demanding to know if he has any plans to benefit young people and asked if he would reverse the £9,000 tutition fees. On the tutition fees, he said:

I won’t make promises that I cannot guarantee. We’ve seen what happens when you do that,”

referring to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg's U-turn. But he did say that after seeing how young people were engergised during the Scottish Referendum, if he is elected Prime Minister he would give 16-year olds the vote.

In this long run up the 2015 General Election, the Labour leader has set the bar high for the other parties to follow. I reminded the audience that this event and others which will follow illustrate the power of the Black vote.

We're pleased to have the Labour leader here talking about tackling racial prejudice, but these events are only in part about politicians and more about us as a community."

The Black and Minority Ethnic vote will be a deciding factor in the 2015 General Election, just over six months away. We must realise our potential and continue to make demands that will afford us dignity, justice and equal opportunity.

Simon Woolley